Feast of Corpus Christi

St. Josefkirche

The last real day of our friend's visit was the Feast of Corpus Christi and, therefore, a holiday where everything would be closed.  So we decided to embrace the feast day since it seemed that a city only an hour away was going to have a real procession from one church to another instead of the kind we've always been to where everyone processes around a parking lot and back to the church.  Let me just say, it was a great decision!  I wasn't feeling great that day, but it was still worth it.  The procession began at Saint Joseph's Church (Sankt Josefkirche) and ended at the main cathedral in Speyer.

It was difficult to find parking and then a bathroom (Churches never have bathrooms in Europe!) and it took us a while to get seated and situated.  When the music started, we all took a big sigh and knew we'd made the right decision.  The organ and choir were amazing and the service very reverent.  

Procession

The procession was lead by the priests and the Blessed Sacrament and there were kids who had brought baskets of rose petals to scatter as we processed.  There was singing and a speaker system followed behind so everyone could hear.  It was hot, but really a unique experience for us all.

The Floor Flower Art 

 At the end point, Speyer Cathedral, the priests prayed outside before they moved inside for a homily.  In front of the church was a floral religious decoration on the ground.  That is very common on this feast day here everywhere.

After they peeked at the inside of the cathedral and realized because of the service continuing they wouldn't be able to really tour it, we went to a restaurant that we had been to before right across the street from the cathedral.  The kids thoroughly enjoyed the playground at the restaurant.  The dad's had to be pulled away from the restaurant because they seemed to be enjoying it for far longer than the rest of us.  I mentioned I wasn't feeling well, and it had gotten worse after all the walking in the heat.  The kids were still asking for ice cream and more playgrounds on the walk back to the van, but I had to put my foot down there.  

At the Speyer Cathedral

We had promised them we'd try to be home in time for the kids to just spend relaxed time together at the house since we really didn't have any other time in the whole two weeks for that, but, alas, we didn't get home until 4pm.  It was still the earliest night I think we had, but it's not what the girls had in mind for sure.

The next day was just straight to the airport for our dear friends.  We were sad to see them go, but, boy, did we squeeze every last drop out of their time with us in Europe!  No regrets!